Raspberry plant named &#39;RAFIKI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Raspberry plant named ‘Rafiki’, characterized by its upright and somewhat bushy plant habit; freely branching habit; thornless stems; high fruit production; mid season fruit development; red purple-colored conical fruits; pleasant and sweet fruit taste; and good fruit postharvest longevity.

Botanical designation: Rubus idaeus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RAFIKI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofRaspberry plant, botanically known as Rubus idaeus and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Rafiki’.

The new Raspberry plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rossum, Gelderland, The Netherlands. Theobjective ofthe breeding program was to develop new Raspberry plantswith good fruit quality, productivity, uniformity and postproductionlongevity.

The new Raspberry plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofRubus idaeus ‘Advabereen’, disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 46,041 andU.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,915. The new Raspberry plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant from within a population ofplants of ‘Advabereen’ in a controlled environment in Rossum,Gelderland, The Netherlands in September, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Raspberry plant by root cuttings in acontrolled environment at Rossum, Gelderland, The Netherlands since thespring of 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Raspberryplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Raspberry have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rafiki’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Rafiki’ as a new and distinct Raspberry plant:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat bushy plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Thornless stems.    -   4. High fruit production.    -   5. Mid season fruit development.    -   6. Red purple-colored conical fruits.    -   7. Pleasant and sweet fruit taste.    -   8. Good fruit postharvest longevity; fruits do not darken in        color after harvesting.

Plants of the new Raspberry differ primarily from plants of the mutationparent, ‘Advabereen’ in thorniness as plants of the new Raspberry arethornless whereas plants of ‘Advabereen’ have stems with thorns.

Plants of the new Raspberry can be compared to plants of Rubus idaeus‘Polka’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newRaspberry differ primarily from plants of ‘Polka’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Raspberry are more freely branching than        plants of ‘Polka’.    -   2. Plants of the new Raspberry are thornless whereas plants of        ‘Polka’ have stems with thorns.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Raspberry are lighter in color        than fruits of plants of ‘Polka’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the appearance of thenew Raspberry plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Raspberry plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a sideperspective view of typical fruiting plants of ‘Rafiki’ grown in anoutdoor nursery. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up viewof a typical fruit of ‘Rafiki’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the spring, summer and autumn in 10-litercontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Rossum, TheNetherlands and under typical cultural practices of Raspberry plantproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesaveraged 17° C. and night temperatures averaged 11° C. Plants were oneyear old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus ‘Rafiki’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Rubus idaeus    ‘Advabereen’, disclosed in U.S. Reissue Pat. No. 46,041 and U.S.    Plant Pat. No. 23,915.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 14 days at            temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six            weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 17° C.        -   Root description.—Medium to thin in thickness, fibrous,            typically brownish white brown in color, actual color of the            roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat bushy plant            habit; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 1.8 to 2 meters.        -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about seven to            eight lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Length.—About 50 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 7 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Mostly erect.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; thorny.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 145C.        -   Color, dormant.—Close to 182B.        -   Thorns.—Stems of plants of the new Raspberry have not been            observed to develop thorns to date.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; compound with typically three            leaflets.        -   Length, leaf.—About 28 cm to 32 cm.        -   Width, leaf.—About 22 cm to 26 cm.        -   Length, terminal leaflet.—About 14 cm to 16 cm.        -   Width, terminal leaflet.—About 15 cm to 18 cm.        -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Leaflet base.—Cordate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Double serrate.        -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly rippled,            glabrous.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            144A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 194B.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 143B;            venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower            surface: Close to 194B; venation, close to 147D.        -   Petioles.—Length, leaf: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Diameter, leaf:            About 3 mm. Length, terminal leaflet: About 3 cm. Diameter,            terminal leaflet: About 3 mm. Length, lateral leaflets:            About 3 mm. Diameter, lateral leaflets: About 3 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely prickled. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single star-shaped flowers            arranged in axillary sprays; freely flowering with about two            to four flowers per spray and about seven to nine sprays per            lateral branch; flowers face mostly outwardly; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower during the autumn in            The Netherlands.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 5            mm to 10 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid with acuminate apex.            Color: Close to 141D.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 7 mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals. Length:            About 1.5 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate            to slightly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 155D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals forming a            star-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Calyx            width: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Length: About 2 cm. Width:            Proximally, about 1 cm; distally, about 2 mm. Shape:            Deltoid. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color: When developing,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. Fully opened, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 145B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from vertical.            Texture: Prickled. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° from peduncle            axis. Texture: Prickled. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 50            or more. Filament color: Close to 155D. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: Close to 164C and 156C. Pollen color:            Close to 196C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: About 80            to 100. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 5 mm. Style            color: Close to 155D. Receptacles: Height: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Conical. Color: Close to 155D.            Fruits (aggregate of drupelets): Quantity: One per flower.            Number of drupelets per fruit: At least 100. Number of days            to fruit ripening: About 30 to 35. Fruiting season: Mid            season. Length: About 2 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm            to 2.5 cm. Shape: Broadly conical. Weight: About 5 grams.            Firmness: Firm. Taste: Pleasant, sweet. Luster: Glossy.            Postharvest longevity: Good postharvest longevity, fruits            last up to ten days; fruits do not darken in color after            harvest. Color: Close to 61A to 61C. Seeds: Quantity: One            per drupelet. Length: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 20D.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Raspberry have been    noted to be resistant to Orange Rust (Arthuriomyces peckianus),    Downy Mildew (Peronospora sparsa) and Red Spider Mites (Tetranychus    urticae).-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Raspberry have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Raspberry plant named ‘Rafiki’ asillustrated and described.